Biography Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez

1 biography

1.1 life , ministry
1.2 separation roman catholic church
1.3 entry brazilian catholic apostolic church
1.4 primacy
1.5 personal life
1.6 death

biography
early life , ministry

luis fernando castillo méndez born in caracas, venezuela on december 4, 1922 , baptized on december 22 in parish of saint john baptist. parents castillo lopéz , carmen méndez , had 5 siblings: ramón, domingo, cecilia, josé de jesús , antonio obdulio. after studying in roman catholic archdiocesan seminary in caracas, left bachelor s degree , traveled class of seminarians solsona, catalonia, in spain, , on august 10, 1944, bishop valentín comellas y santamaría ordained him priesthood in cathedral of santa maria.

upon returning venezuela, @ time of massive upheaval in country, castillo méndez became involved in movement called curas criollos ( native priests or literally creole priests ). having learned through periodicals church reform movement led left-wing government critic , vatican critic dom carlos duarte costa (former roman catholic bishop of botucatu) in brazil , founder of brazilian catholic apostolic church (separated holy see , roman catholic church) in 1945, castillo méndez entered correspondence duarte costa.

separation roman catholic church

castillo mendez in 1948 monsignor

in 1947 castillo méndez , 3 other clergy formally established venezuelan catholic apostolic church . brazilian catholic church led first bishop, dom carlos duarte costa, venezuelan church independent of vatican, use spanish instead of latin in liturgy, , permit clergy marry. castillo méndez filed new church s organizational papers interior ministry in 1947, signed affidavits 250 fellow priests had unanimously elected him bishop of caracas. minister of interior ordered federal police ensure castillo méndez did not wear vestments or insignia of office of bishop. however, new church did receive public approval democratic action , communist parties.

on march 8, 1947 castillo méndez , other 3 founders of venezuelan independent church formally excommunicated roman catholic church. roman catholic archbishop, lucas guillermo castillo, stated in excommunication directive 4 priests had violated fundamental dogma of roman catholic church , held concepts blasphemous, several offensive person , authority of roman pope pius xii. notice further stated catholics supported new church excommunicated.

entry brazilian catholic apostolic church

ordination of castillo mendez bishop of caracas

in 1947 castillo méndez serving pastor of st. teresa s parish in caracas. having been elected leader fellow priests in nascent national church, sought go brazil receive episcopal consecration duarte costa. however, venezuelan government did not consent trip, nor allow duarte costa enter venezuela. in end, castillo méndez , carlos duarte costa made arrangements meet in panama canal zone, territory under jurisdiction of united states, did not have formal diplomatic relations vatican @ time. on may 3, 1948, costa consecrated castillo méndez bishop, title of bishop of caracas , primate of venezuela. costa assisted dom salamao ferraz, bishop of são paulo, co-consecrator.

castillo méndez s consecration led official persecution roman catholic cardinal in venezuela , tortured hot irons venezuelan government deny catholic bishop. fled brazil on june 21, 1950, installed patriarch duarte costa parish vicar , diocesan bishop of uberlandia in state of minas gerais. in 1957 moved rio de janeiro served auxiliary bishop. reassigned brasília in 1960 served diocesan bishop of state of goias. worth noting erection of diocese of brasília predated of roman catholic archdiocese 5 years, result of roman catholic hierarchy forced recognize, , never able challenge, title of bishop of brasília. in 1961 acquired brazilian citizenship.

primacy

castillo mendez carlos duarte costa during episcopal congregation in panama

upon bishop duarte costa s death in 1961, leadership of brazilian catholic apostolic church apparently in flux several years, several individuals leading or claiming lead church, brief periods of time. sources indicate castillo méndez leader of church 1961. 1982 undisputed leader, elected year president of episcopal council of icab. in 1988 officially designated patriarch of icab , , in 1990 given title of patriarch of ican , became wccac, church s international communion, position held until death in 2009. few days shortly after receiving title of patriarch, created canadian catholic apostolic church in 1988 , consecrated claude r. baron primate of canadian church.

castillo mendez eduardo aguirre oestmann, bishop-primate of icergua

castillo mendez used tridentine pontifical in vernacular episcopal consecrations. however, eastern orthodox church , many other christian churches, denied papal infallibility , did not support obligatory priestly celibacy. in 1980s, entered private dialogue apostolic nuncio during pontificate of pope john paul ii @ pope s request see if reunification possible; unfortunately, episcopal council of icab refused idea, remembering various ongoing acts of malice , torture committed roman church against brazilian church. castillo mendez given papal blessing pope john paul ii. in words of holiness patriarch dom luis fernando castillo mendez in 1961 , 2005 ; “well, not of new religion. not accept new religion. of religion of time; of catholic religion. not of universal religion call today-this not catholic religion more. not of liberal, modernist religion has own worship, own priests, own faith, own catechisms, own bible, ecumenical bible -these things not accept.

personal life

despite brazilian catholic apostolic church allows priests , clergy marry, castillo méndez celibate. noted recite rosary several times every day; practice abolished church under duarte costa. castillo méndez resided in archbishop s residence in brasilia, remain due illness until death. castillo méndez wore church s gray cassock red piping after designation as, patriarch of icab , began wearing off-white cassock , zucchetto.

death

on morning of october 29, 2009 in archbishop s residence, castillo mendez suffered severe heart attack. rushed hospital , lost consciousness; declared dead @ approximately 9:00 am, @ age of 86, in brasilia, brazil. last living bishop consecrated carlos duarte costa , had been gravely ill several years. funeral mass took place @ cathedral of our lady of miraculous medal in brasilia, body laid rest; attending presiding bishop of icab josivaldo perreira de oliveira , bishops of episcopal council , large gathering of clergy , families.